IPS 3545 
064 H6 
_1912 

The 
Honest 
Shoe Maker 

BY 

Rea Woodman, M. A. 

PRICE 15 CENTS. 



EUDRIDGE ENTERTAINMENT HOU! 
Franklin, Ohio. 



■'■ ,'■..•: >-/-- . ■."^-.- ■ .-•• ■-•■ .■.'■•::,■■: .■•■."■■ , ■'•:; - v ■ . --■.-,-->-' .,:■.";.■<■■■ 



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iniHONEST SHOEMAKER 



A Domestic Play for Little Folks 
in Four Scenes. 



Adapted from Grim's Fairy Tale, "The Shoemaker 
and the Elves. ' ' 



By REA WOODMAN, M. A.. 

it 

Author of "Preserving a Smith, " "The Rescue of Prince 
Hal,",. "The Clever Doctor," and "Galliger." 



COPYRIGHT 1912 BY REA WOODMAN. 



Eldridge Entertainment House, 

Franklin, Ohio. 









Dedicated to Frederick Evans Delzell, a little Texas 
boy, whose unalloyed confidence in my ability to "tell a 
'tory, " is very precious to me. 



CL'D 31169 



THE CHARACTERS OF THE DRAMA. 

John Dobson, the Honest Shoemaker, 

Mary Dobson, His Wife. 

First Creditor. 

Second Creditor. 

First Customer. 

Second Customer. 

Nix and Trix, the Kindly Elves. 



Scene 1. The Shoemaker's Shop One Monday 
Afternoon. 

Scene II. The Shoemaker's Shop the next Morn- 
ing. 

Scene III." The Shoemaker's Shop One Week 
Later. ' 

Scene IV. The Shoemaker's Shop Christmas Eve. 



THE HONEST SHOEMAKER. 

SCENE I. 

The Shoemaker's Shop — One Monday Afternoon. 

{The Shoemaker's Shop. A plain room, con- 
taining, besides a long heavy curtain against 
wall, only a shoemaker s bench and a table. 
John Dobson, the Shoemaker, is discovered sit- 
ting on the bench in an attitude of extreme de- 
spondency.) 

John, (smoothing out his leather apron). I do not 
understand how it is that I do not get on. I work hard, 
yet here I am, a perfectly poor man. There is hardly 
anything in the house to eat, and I have only leather 
enough for one pair of shoes, (sighs). I do not under- 
stand why I do not get on. (Sighingly he takes up a 
large piece of leather.) This is all the leather I have in 
the world. It will make one pair of shoes. Then I do 
not know what we will do. (There is a loud knock at 
the door.) I hope that is not a customer, for I have 
nothing to sell, (calls). Come in! 

(Enter the First Creditor, in a stiff hat, with a cane.) 

John, (rising). Good evening, sir. 

First C. Good evening. I suppose you remember me? 

John, (sighing). I do. 

First C. (taking a paper from his pocket). Well, 
what are you going to do about this little bill? 

John. I am going to pay it as soon as I can. 

First C. (frowning). You said that yesterday. 

John, (sighing). I did. And I say it again today. 

First C. Come now. This won't do, you know. 
Either you are going to pay it, or you are not. 

John. You said that yesterday. 

First C. Well, I say it again today. (There is a 
melancholy pause.) Well, what are you going to do? 
Speak up. 

4 



John, (holding up the leather). You see this? It 
is all the leather I have. I shall make a pair of shoes 
in the morning. If I sell them, I may be able to pay 
you something. Let me see ; how much is your bill ? 

First C. (twirling his stylish cane). You know per- 
fectly well how much it is. 

John, (sitting down on the bench). No, I don't. I 
get 'em mixed. 

First C. (referring to the bill). This is for milk de- 
livered at your door for the past five weeks. It is for 
one dollar and forty cents. 

John. Oh yes, I remember now. Well, I can't pay it. 

First C. I will call tomorrow, sir, and if you do not 
pay it, I will have you arrested. Good day, sir. (He 
goes, stiffly.) 

John, (alone). Little did I think, a year ago, that 
I would not be able to pay the milk bill. But I will not 
be discouraged. Things will take a turn. (There comes 
a knock on the door, zuhich he does not hear.) I will 
not be discouraged. No man should lose courage while 
he is able to work. 

(Enter the Second Creditor, as if very angry.) 

Sec. Cred. (in a surly tone). Good afternoon. I 
rapped, but you did not hear me. Are you going to pay 
that little bill today? 

John, (taking up an azvl). Which bill is it? 

Sec. Cred. (crossly). You know which bill it is. 

John. No, I don't. I get 'em mixed. 

Sec. Cred. (more crossly). Here, I have no time to 
lose. You know which bill it is. 

John. No, I don't. All you fellows look alike. 

Sec. Cred. (in a rage). We all look alike — we all 
look alike, do we? I'll show you how we all look alike. 
You can't bully me, sir. I tell you that right now. (He 
slams the bill on the table.) I'll have the law on you, 
that's what I'll have. Here is my bill. Do you see it, 
sir ? . I 

5 



John, (measuring leather). Yes, I see it. 

Sec. Cred. All right, sir. You say you do see it, sir.- 
I will call tomorrow, and if you don't pay it, we'll make 
you pay it. Do you understand? (pounds on the table). 
We'll make you' pay it. Them as can't pay their debts, 
the Law sends 'em to jail. That's the Law, that is, and 
I'll have the Law on you ! That's all I have to say, sir ! 
(He flings out.) 

John, (rising, and looking at the bill). I do not 
understand why it is that I do not get on. 

(Enter Mary Dobson, in an old dress, patched and 
clean, with a little shazvl about her shoulders.) 

Mary. What is that, John, — a bill? 

John, (hiding the bill). No, just a — a little piece of 
poetry I was learning. 

Mary. I don't see how you find any time for poetry. 
Well, put it away and come to supper. 

John. See what a fine piece of leather this is! 

Mary, (shaking her head). I know, John, I know. 
That is the last piece of leather you have. You can not 
deceive me. 

John, (putting it down gently). It is. We are very 
poor. 

Mary, (placing her hand on his arm). Well, John, 
you must not be discouraged. It will come out all right 
if you do not lose hope. 

John, (looking steadily dozvn). Tomorrow I will 
make the very best pair of shoes that I know how. 
Things will take a turn. 

Mary. That is the way to feel. Come to supper now. 
We have only bread and tea. The potatoes are all gone. 

John, (looking steadily dozvn). There are a good 
many people who have n't any bread to-night. (He 
takes off his leather apron, and lays it gently on the 
bench.) 

Mary. That is true, John. We should be very thank- 
ful. (She lifts the candle.) 

6 



John. Things will take a turn. (They go out, she 
carrying the candle.) 

CURTAIN. 



SCENE II. 

The Shoemaker's Shop — The Next Morning. 
(The Shop, as before. On the table, promi- 
nently placed, a pair of bran-new shoes.) 
(Enter John Dobson, in his leather apron.) 

John, (sitting dozvn on his bench). I will make the 
very best pair of shoes that I can — the very best. It is 
a beautiful morning, and we have had a good breakfast. 
I can not feel discouraged in such a beautiful world. 
Things will take a turn. (He examines some of his 
tools.) Now I'll make the shoes that are to bring us 
good fortune. Why, where is my leather? (He hunts 
everyzvhere.) I laid it on the bench the last thing I did 
last night, all cut out, so I could get to work right away. 
(He searches again.) It is gone. And it was all I had! 
What will become of us? (He buries his face in his 
hands, thinks a minute, then slozvly looks up.) I will 
not tell my wife; she was so happy this morning. She 
said, "John, this is going to be a beautiful day for us. I 
feel it." I can not tell her this. (Looking around vague- 
ly, he sees the new shoes.) Why, what are these? I did 
not make these. (He examines them.) Who put them 
here? How strange. (He rubs his eyes.) I hope I 
am not going crazy. These are bran-new. (calls). 
Mary! Mary! Come here! 

(Enter Mary Dobson, zv earing a dust cap and carry- 
ing a mop.) 

Mary, look here ! I just found these. 

Mary. Found them ! Are you crazy ? 

John. Somebody put them here in place of my leather. 
They are here, and it is gone. 



Mary, {examining the shoes). How do you know? 
Why, John, look! They are made of your leather! 
Look! 

John. How can that be ? 

Mary. But they are, anyway. Look ! 

John. So they are. (He sits down front sheer weak- 
ness.) Mary, you are a smart woman. My own leather! 
Now what do you know about that? 

Mary, (crying). Oh John, somebody made them for 
you in the night! 

John. But what shall I do with them? 

Mary. Sell them; they are yours. Somebody means 
good to us because you were patient and hopeful. Don't 
you see? I must scrub the kitchen floor; there will be 
many customers now. Oh, I am so happy, dear John! 
(She goes, drying her eyes.) 

John, (staring at the shoes). How could anybody 
make them in the night? It could not be. And if I sell 
them, I may be arrested for stealing. I do not know 
what to do. I am in a worse case than I was. 

(Enter the First Customer.) 

First C. (taking off his stylish hat). Good morning. 

John, (rising). Good morning. 

First C. Your wife told me to come right in. I want 
to buy a pair of shoes, and your shop has been recom- 
mended to me. I am willing to pay a good price for 
them. I do not wear store shoes ; they hurt my feet. 
Have you any good shoes, number ten? 

John. I have a fine pair of shoes here that I have just 
finished. (He holds up the shoes, turning them around 
admiringly.) They are first-class in every particular. 

First C. (taking them). Are they soft leather? I 
must have soft leather. My feet are very tender. 

John. These shoes would not hurt anybody's feet. 
The Queen of England wears shoes made out of this 
leather. 

First C. (using a red silk handkerchief with much 

8 



elegance) . Indeed ! And she is supposed to be very 
particular. 

John. Oh, she is — a most particular old lady. Will 
you try them on? 

First C. No, I never try on my shoes in public. I 
will pay for them, and take them with me, on the under- 
standing that you will take them back if they hurt my 
feet. 

John. Certainly, sir, certainly. 

First C. {taking out a fat pocketbook). How much 
are they? 

John. Ten dollars. 

First C. (counting out the bills). Here is the money. 
(John wraps up the shoes.) I will bring them back to 
you if they do not suit. 

John. You are a stranger in town, sir? 

First C. (putting away the fat pocketbook). I am, 
sir. I arrived from Europe this morning. 

John. Europe is a very pleasant place to live, they 
say. 

First C. It is, sir. Good day, sir. 

John, (bozving him out). Good day, sir. Thank 
you. Call again, sir. (The First Customer goes.) Ten 
dollars! Now I can pay all my debts, (takes off his 
apron). I will buy some more leather, right away, and 
get to work. Things have taken a turn. 

(Enter the Second Customer, "a stylish lady/' push- 
ing a doll buggy.) 

John, (with marked urbanity). Good morning, 
Madam. Let me assist you. (He helps her get the 
buggy to rights.) What may I do for you? 

J^ady. C. I want to buy some shoes for my little girl. 

John. I am sorry, Madam, but I am just out of 
children shoes, — just this morning. Can you call again? 

Lady C. (much occupied zvith her face veil, which 
catches her eyelashes). No, I am going to New York 
tomorrow to attend a ball. 

9 



John, {visibly impressed). Ah, that is unfortunate. 
Can you not leave your order, Madam? I could send 
them to you. 

Lady C. {spreading her train). I guess I could do 
that, only she needs the shoes to go to the ball. 

John, {putting on a pair of spectacles, and opening 
a big ledger). Can you not call this afternoon? I can 
have them here by 2 o'clock. 

Lady C. That will do, I think. Please write down 
one pair of red slippers, one pair of blue slippers, and 
two pairs of strapped shoes. 

John, {writing'). What color, Madam? 

Lady C. I told you the color. Blue and red. 

John, {writing). Excuse me, Madam, what color are 
the strapped shoes to be? 

Lady C. {arranging her veil). Black. For street 
wear. 

John, {chewing his pen holder). What number? 

Lady C. (blinking pain fully under the taut veil). 
Baby size, of course. 

John. But there are several baby sizes, Madam. 

Lady C. Oh. Well, put doAvn number three. That 
is all today. 

John, (shutting the ledger, and taking off the spec- 
tacles). That is a fine child you have there, Madam. 

Lady C. {sighing). Yes, I have six children. {She 
begins to turn the buggy — no easy task for a lady with 
a train and a veil!) 

John, (assisting). That is a large family, Madam. 

Lady C. And all my children are so delicate! My 
oldest boy has the electric fits. 

John. Dear me, that is very distressing! 

Lady C. {adjusting her hat and veil and train). 
Good morning. 

John, (bowing and botving). Good morning, Madam. 
(The Lady Customer goes, zvith dignity and difficulty.) 

10 



She does n't know what size shoe her baby wears ! And 
the mother of six children ! Women are very silly. It's 
lucky I have the money. I could not afford to lose so 
elegant a customer. (He takes his top coat and hat and 
colored scarf from a wall-peg and puts them on.) I will 
buy some potatoes, and surprise Mary. {Winds the long 
scarf around and around his neck.) Things have taken 
a turn. {He goes out, whistling.) 

CURTAIN. 



SCENE III. 

The Shoemaker s Shop — One Week Later. 

{The Shoemaker's Shop. John Dob son, in his 
apron, is discovered seated at the table, on which 
a caudle burns. He is "figuring up ac counts" 
laborously and earnestly.) 

John, {-figuring). Two and seven is nine, and five 
is — is fourteen. Five and eight is {counts on his fingers) 
thirteen, and one to carry is fourteen. That makes it 
easy, to have it come out fourteen. Fourteen from four- 
teen is nothing. Four from nine is five — five dollars. 
I have made five dollars and fourteen # cents above ex- 
penses in one week, and here it is. {He jingles the coin 
in a little canvas moneybag on the table.) Five dollars 
and fourteen cents. That is a large sum. (He contem- 
plates the figures.) I did not know there was so much 
arithmetic in the shoe business. There never was before. 
{There is a timid knock on the door.) That can't be a 
customer. — Come in ! 

(Enter the Second Creditor, carrying a lighted lan- 
tern.) 

Creditor. Good evening. 

John, (staring at him) . Oh, it's you ! 

Cred. (embarrassed) . I know it's late, but — 

John. Well, I should say it is. It's nearly midnight. 

11 



Cred. I know it, but I'm in trouble, ancil — I — 

John, (coldly). What's the matter of you? 

Cred. (twirling his hat in his. hand). I know it looks 
queer for me to come here so late — 

John, (sourily). It does. What do you want? 

Cred. I — you see, I — (Then he blurts it out.) I will 
be arrested tomorrow morning and put in jail if I do 
not pay my meat bill. 

John. So you'll be arrested! At what time? 

Cred. At 9 o'clock. 

John. Well, why don't you pay it? 

Cred. I have n't got any money. And if they put 
me in jail that will be worse. How can a man earn 
money when he is in jail? 

John. Sit down. (The Creditor sits down on the 
bench, a broken man.) You want to borrow the money 
from me? Is that it? (The Creditor nods, his head 
bent.) You want to borrow money from me. (He stares 
hard at the miserable Creditor.) A week ago you said 
you would arrest me, — do you remember? 

Cred. I do. 

John. You said you'd have the Law on me. 

Cred. I did, aad I would have. That was good busi- 
ness. You paid the money, and I did not have you ar- 
rested. That was good business, too. You are an hon- 
est man. I need a friend, and I — I thought I'd make 
free to ask you — 

John, (jumping up). Shake hands. (They shake 
hands, solemnly.) How much is that bill? 

Cred. Four dollars and twenty-five cents. 

John, (taking up the canvas bag). I will give it to 
you right now — 

Cred. No, no, I will come again in the morning. I 
can wait. I — I'd rather wait. I will go home and tell 
my wife that I will not have to go to jail. She is sick 
in bed. (He breaks down.) 

12 



John, (placing his hand on his shoulder). That's 
all right. That's all right. 



Cred. I — (turns to go). Good night. 

John. Good night. Call around in the morning. (The 
Creditor goes. John stands still a minute, shaking his 
head sadly. Then, sighing, he puts the moneybag in his 
pocket, and takes up a number of pieces of leather from 
the bench. By the time he has matched and fitted these, 
he is whistling cheerfully a mournful air.) There, I 
have cut out four pairs of shoes, just for an experiment. 
Every night for a week I've left leather cut out, ready 
to make up, and in the morning the shoes have been 
made up. It is very strange. To night my wife and I 
are going to watch and see who does the work. She 
thinks it's fairies. I don't. I don't believe in fairies, 
and besides, who ever heard of fairies that could make 
shoes? Anyway, I am making money very fast. 

(Enter Mary, wrapped in a cosy shawl.) 

Mary. Who was that came in? 

John. A man to see me on business. 

Mary. It is nearly midnight. You know fairies never 
appear until midnight. 

John, (arranging leather cuttings on the bench). I 
do not expect to see any fairies. 

Mary. Well, we shall see. There, is no use arguing 
about it. Wliere shall we hide ? 

John. Let us get behind that curtain. Did you leave 
the door unlocked? (He hides behind the curtain, so 
that lie can peek out at one side.) 

Mary. Yes, and I left a light in the kitchen. (She 
hides behind the curtain, so that she can peek out at 
the other side.) 

John. I should not think that fairies would need a 
light. 

(A clock outside strikes twelve. Upon the last stroke, 
the Bhes, Nix and Trix, caper in. They wear only short, 
ragged, skimpt, one-piece slips, and their hair tumbles 

13 



down their shoulders. They take up the leather pieces, 
and, holding them high, dance around the table three 
times. Then, sitting down on the bench, their backs to 
the audience, they hammer and tack and rap away at a 
great rate, tossing their tousled heads all the zvhile. Pres- 
ently, they spring up, each with two pairs of bran-new 
shoes, and put them neatly on the table, with manifest 
pride. Then, after dancing around the table three times, 
they scamper out.) 

Mary, (coming out). I told you so! 

John, (coming out). You said fairies. They are 
Elves. 

Mary. It's the same thing. I told you so! 

John. It is n't the same thing at all. But I don't 
care; they have brought us fame and fortune. 

Mary, (wiping her eyes). The dear little Elves! I 
wish we might do something for them. 

John, (examining the shoes). So do I. How good 
they are ! 

Mary. I wish we could do something to show that 
we are grateful. I tell you what. I'll make each of 
them a little coat and waistcoat and cap. Did you notice 
how thin their dresses were? Poor little things, they 
must get very cold. 

John. Yes, and they were barefoot. I'll make shoes 
for them, and buy some stockings. 

Mary, (looking absently at the candle). I suppose 
their mother is dead. 

John, (examining the shoes). They understand the 
shoe business, all right. 

Mary. And let's leave the things here for them Christ- 
mas Eve. Then they'll know that we are truly thankful. 

John. That is a good idea, Mary. 
Mary, (lifting the candle). Ugh, it is very cold. I 
am glad I put on this shawl. (She goes toward the door.) 

John, (looking down at the shoes, on the table). 
Things have sure taken a turn. I never believed in fairies 

14 



before. Why, I can't make better shoes myself. 

Mary, (shivering). Come on. Do not stand there 
talking all night. 

CURTAIN. 



SCENE IV. 

The Shoemaker's Shop — Christmas Bve. 

(The Shoemaker's Shop. John Dobson is dis- 
covered standing by the table, without his apron, 
and with a flower in his button-hole. He holds 
tivo pairs of shoes and stockings, and a quan- 
tity of holly. Two candles burn on the table.) 

John, (arranging the gifts and holly on the bench). 
This is the nicest Christmas we have ever had. I am 
not worried about money any more, for all my debts are 
paid. We have flour and potatoes enough for the win- 
ter, and I have got my wife a silk dress for Christmas — 
but she does not know it yet. And the kind little Elves 
did it all ! 

(Enter Mary, in a pretty dress, with a red flower in 
her hair. She carries a number of little garments, and 
a box tied with red ribbon.) 

Mary. Well, what do you think, John? There just 
came a poor woman to the door. She said she has three 
children, and her husband is out of work. 

John, (arranging holly sprays on the bench). Did 
you give her some money? 

Mary, (putting her gifts on the table). I gave her 
a dollar, John. Tomorrow I am going to see her. She 
seemed like such a nice woman. 

John. You can take the children a Christmas gift, if 
you want to. We can afford it. (proudly). I bought 
some holly to surprise you. 

Mary. That is very nice. And I bought some candy 
for the Elves. (She arranges the garments in two piles, 
overstrewn with holly.) Oh, is not this the most beau- 

15 



CT 19 1912 



tiful Christmas ! We are able to buy whatever we like, 
and as much as we like — I never had such a Christmas 
in my life ! Oh John, do you think we are thankful 
enough ? 

John. Yes, I think we are, but of course we can not 
show it all at once. 

Mary, {standing off to survey the table). No, that 
is true, John. We have the rest of our lives to show 
it in. Don't the things look pretty? 

John, {looking at the table). Those are good warm 
coats, Mary. {There is a thoughtful pause.) I did n't 
know that Christmas was such a — such a — a blessed 
sort of time. 

Mary. It never was before — not in this house. Maybe 
it's because we're so thankful. {Sleigh bells are heard 
in the distance.) Listen! Sleigh bells! {The merry 
ringing diminishes and softly dies azvay.) Oh John, is 
it not beautiful? I am so happy I almost want to die! 

John, {brusquely, turning away). Hurry up! I'm 
afraid they'll come! 

Mary, {zvist fully) . I wonder if they know about 
Santa Claus? 

John, (starting out). Well, if they don't, they soon 
will. Come on. {With a lingering look at the presents, 
they go out.) 

(The clock strikes twelve. On the last stroke, Nix 
and Trix come scampering in. Silently, they look for 
their usual zvork, and discover the presents on the table 
and bench. They examine and compare them, with many 
gestures of surprise and delight, and, finally deciding that 
the gifts are for them, they dance around the table three 
times, hugging their presents. Then, in gleeful panto- 
mime, they don the garments, shoes and all, helping each 
other, and often stopping to eat candy and frisk about. 
Then, their hands full of holly sprays, their pockets bulg- 
ing -with candy, they circle around the table three times 
and, after jerky little bozvs, scamper out, throwing kisses 
recklessly.) 

CURTAIN. 

16 



